ATPL re-examination

[radeng]

Silly question.

Is there any other profession that gets re-examined on competence to the same extent as pilots? Doctors, lawyers, engineers, ambulance drivers etc don't get re-examined in the same way.......no yearly simchecks for them!

Medicals I can understand. Same for ATCOs.

Makes you think that pilots are worth what they're paid (or in some cases, not paid)

[chrisbl]

Most professions have a Continuing professional Development requirement which varies depending on the occupation. Failure to comply with the requirements could lead to explusion from the respective profession and a serious impact on the ability to retain their earning ability.

Pilots are nothing special in the scheme of things and in fact the educational and knowledge requirements are well below the level required for many professions.

O level maths and physics is about all one needs to get through most of the exams and that is basically limited to right angle triangles, pythagoras, manipulating equations sine, cosine and tangents.

ATPL is not rocket science, thats reseved for the really clever chaps the engineers.

Having done the ATPL exams (age 50) for the hell of it ( well as a comparison against other professions) the kindest description is that they are fairly superficial.

[parabellum]

radeng - The answer to your question is 'No'. I can't think of any other profession that requires the pass/fail checking system that is required of pilots. Continuing Professional Development Schemes are, by comparison, just a tick in the box affair to say the material has been read/viewed etc. and have none of the job threatening element that a professional pilot's periodic checks have.

Beware posters on PPRuNe for whom pilot is not their primary employment and make no bones about the fact that they don't like professional pilots!;)

[chrisbl]

Radeng is the expert.

There are many professions where there is a pass/ fail which determines suitability to continue in practice ranging from medicine to police firearms officers.

As to a view on professional pilots - one needs to be realistic - they are not gods although some behave as if they are - besides which one needs to draw a distinction between those that earn their living from flying and those that fly to a standard where they could earn a living.

I know a few pilots who earn from flying who have a less than professional attitude, (show off, bully, etc) and some who chose to earn their living another way (might have commercial licences) but are exemplary in an out of the cockpit and usually pretty modest too.

Professionalism is an approach and an attitude of mind rather than an issue of being paid or not.

It is easier when you have an airline drawing up SOPs and spoon feeding you practices and procedures to keep you and your charges safe.

It takes "professionalism" as a non paid pilot to draw up ones own SOPs and stick with them even (including regular proficiency checks even when not needed and ad own expense) when it might be convenient to just do ones own thing and operate on the margin.

It is the latter form of "professional pilot" I tend to admire the most and take inspiration from.

[chrisbl]

A class 1 medical is no big deal particularly the renewal requirements. Your old body in particular the eyes can deteriorate a far bit before the medical gets pulled.

Each occupation has it own specific hazzards which can be career ending. Pilots have the booze and fitness, doctors have access to drugs and fitness, and a very public way of being struck off etc.

As to the relative value of what people do, keeping your client out of jail and keeping them from a fate worse than death (some thug's bitch) whould rank a quite important. It is all a matter of perspective.

Aviation has become so routine and so supported by the level of on the ground teams as compared to the past that the job is vastly different to the old days and will continue to morph even more into a machine minders job. a lot of the older pilots are bored with their current lot.

Spare a though for the ATC guy who has to continually prove his competency too. He also has the medical threat over his head too.